To Eat or Not To Eat

A rule that has been always been present is now, to the surprise of many, being strictly enforced throughout Clear Brook.

While food and drinks have never been allowed in classrooms, it was a rule that was tossed aside quite often. It was the teacher’s responsibility to clarify whether they were going to allow food or drinks in the classroom.

At the start of the 2016-2017 school year, however, things changed, and students found almost every teacher they had telling them that food and drinks would not be permitted in any classrooms.

Assistant Principal Brian Palazzi said that many of Clear Brook’s problems could be traced back to the food that was being allowed in the classrooms. Spills on the carpet, stains on the furniture, and the increasing appearances of rodents and insects, are just a few examples food in the classroom have brought.

Students had not cleaning up after themselves, and the custodial staff having to work extra hours to clean up after students, added to a renewed enforcement of the food ban in the classroom. The final straw was class disruption with many students being late to class, or even leaving class to get food.Palazzi met with all the teachers to address these issues, and figure out a solution. They banned food and drinks in the classroom, and according to Palazzi, are already seeing fantastic results.

“The problems have greatly decreased, there is a noticeable difference in the school,” said Palazzi.

While most students are excited about renewed enforcement of the rule, some are slightly understanding.

Junior Chaela Hurtado said that not having food in the classroom is understandable, but it’s the ban on water that bothers her.

“No food is reasonable, I guess, because you don’t want bugs and stuff in the school, but like, drinks? People are thirsty and they’re going to get dehydrated,” said Hurtado.

Junior Lindsay McClure said that she definitely disagrees with not allowing water in the classrooms.

Junior Hannah Wolf, who is a member of the JV Volleyball team, pointed out that athletes need water during the day.

“Kids in athletic classes, if they just worked out and stuff, they need water for after that period,” said Wolf.

Wolf also questioned what the purpose the StarBrook coffee cart serves if students couldn’t finish the coffee they buy.

“The coffee cart, there’s no point in having it if no one is gonna have time to drink that between classes,” said Wolf.

McClure was another student who agreed that food is harmful, but water is not.

“I get the food because, it brings roaches, which it did, but I’m not going to focus on my school work if all I’m thinking about is how thirsty I am, and how you’re not going to let me drink water,” said McClure.

Hurtado said she felt the food and water ban to be an overreaction.

“It was like, one kid who did something really bad and like, everyone got affected by it,” said Hurtado.

Teachers, on the other hand, are excited to enforce this rule and see it to be a positive thing that will help not only students, but Clear Brook High School as a whole.

Algebra II teacher Brayden Blackwell said he thinks enforcing this rule will be beneficial to the student’s academics and their performance.

‘It’ll help, now they’re not focused on their drinks or their food or distracting the person next to them by the crinkling of their potato chips, it’ll help increase the focus level of the students,” said Blackwell.

Palazzi thinks if the students understand why the rule is being enforced, they will comply.

“As with any changes, the students will probably be resistant at first, but providing people with accurate information usually helps in alleviating confusion,” said Palazzi.